CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Sept. 26, 2017 –Heart Math Tutoring (Heart) – a Charlotte nonprofit dedicated to helping students in high-poverty elementary schools develop math skills and academic confidence – wrapped up its Spring Funding Initiative with the largest amount raised to date: $840,342. This enables Heart to grow from 12 to 17 school sites during the 2017/18 school year.

Funds raised were from grants, corporate donations, and community support. In the fourth quarter, grants were awarded by Skeebo Foundation ($147,302), The Dickson Foundation ($25,000), TIAA ($10,000), Duke Energy/Piedmont Natural Gas ($10,000), and a general operating grant from The Leon Levine Foundation ($40,000).

In total, support from The Leon Levine Foundation makes up $170,000 of the $840,342 raised for the 2017/18 school year, comprised of the $40,000 general operating grant awarded in June 2017 and $130,000 of a three-year, $350,000 capacity-building grant awarded in March 2017.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of our community partners and the financial support that will impact hundreds more students this school year,” said Emily Elliott, Executive Director of Heart Math Tutoring. “Funds raised will ensure that all students we serve develop the strong foundation in math and enthusiasm for academics needed for long-term success. Together we are helping students succeed in the classroom and beyond.”

At scale, it costs $50,000 to fully fund a Heart school site where 50-80 students receive one-on-one instruction for 30 minutes twice a week from September to May. The cost of a new school site includes an on-site Program Coordinator, tutoring supplies, volunteer recruitment, assessments, and data analysis.

Heart Math Tutoring is a math intervention program that recruits, trains, and supports volunteers as tutors in high-poverty elementary schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). Hundreds of community members spend one hour each week delivering Heart’s research-based, structured curriculum. 56% percent of economically disadvantaged students in CMS performed below grade level in math on 2017 North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests.

In the 2016/17 school year, 98 percent of Heart students met program growth goals in math, growing in two or more building block concept areas. On average, students doubled the goal – growing in 4.9 concept areas. Heart students began the year with 26 percent of foundational skills needed, based on grade level standards. By the end of the year, they grew to have 59 percent of the skills they need, cutting the gap in half.

Since 2013/14, Heart has grown from serving 105 students across two schools to more than 850 students across 17 school sites in 2017/18. Heart’s 750 volunteers collectively gave more than 13,000 hours of targeted, one-on-one instruction to students during the 2016/17 school year. Much of the volunteer growth has been spurred by volunteer tutors, who have recruited friends and colleagues to join in Heart’s efforts. In addition, 100 percent of surveyed Heart volunteers rated their experience as positive, and 99 percent would recommend Heart to friends and colleagues.

Heart Math Tutoring

Heart Math Tutoring is a Charlotte-based nonprofit with a mission to ensure that all elementary students develop the strong foundation in math and enthusiasm for academics needed for long-term success, by helping schools use volunteers as tutors. Community members commit one hour per week to deliver an effective, hands-on curriculum through one-on-one tutoring sessions during the school day in high-poverty elementary schools. For more information, visit http://hearttutoring.org.